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Our reputation has been damaged ‐ Sangakkara

19 August 2010

Following a series of adverse media reports slamming the actions of the Sri Lankan cricket team to deny Indian opener Virender Sehwag his 13th ODI hundred by bowling a no ball during Mondays One‐Day International

Following a series of adverse media reports slamming the actions of the Sri Lankan cricket team to deny Indian opener Virender Sehwag his 13th ODI hundred by bowling a no ball during Mondays One‐Day International between Sri Lanka and India here in Dambulla, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara admitted that the reputation of the team has suffered.

Sangakkara spoke with lot of emotion after the episode diverted the attention away from the fourth ODI of the tri‐nation series against New Zealand here and indicated that because of individuals the team can not suffer. Theres been some damage done to the reputation. But, that reputation cant be taken away from us completely, because over the years, we have done well, he said.

Its not the first time an incident like this has happened in the world. There have been incidents similar to this, but the thing is, theres no point talking about what other teams have been doing. We need to look at ourselves. Because of players the team cant suffer and at all times we have a responsibility towards the team, Sangakkara said addressing journalists yesterday.

I regret what happened overall. I spoke my mind out to the team on the whole incident. I had a chat with my team manager as well, he added.

The Sri Lankans have been vocal critics on acts against sportsmanship and three years ago, the New Zealand cricket team was at the receiving end during a Test Match in Christchurch when Muttiah Muralitharan was run out when he stepped out of the crease to congratulate Sangakkara who had completed a hundred.

Sangakkara was asked as Sri Lanka had criticized other teams on previous instances on poor sportsmanship, how his team could contravene the Spirit of Cricket. It does hurt. Various teams react to various incidents in different manners. In my ten years, I have been through that run out in New Zealand. There was a ball changing incident in 2006, which affected our team.

Soon after Mondays game, Sehwag slammed the Sri Lankan players and at a one point got carried away and suggested that Suraj Randiv had never bowled a no ball in a Test Matches or One‐Day Internationals. Randiv, however, did bowl a no ball during the recent P. Sara Test. Sehwag also accused Sri Lanka of denying Sachin Tendulkar a hundred last year when he was on 97 by bowling a wide ball down the leg‐side, but Sangakkara defended his team on that count.

Theres been this incident in Cuttack that has been brought up. I have seen the replay and that was actually a leg‐bye. The umpire signaled a bye and the batsman implied that he might have even hit it.

Sangakkara also questioned Sehwags consistency. The batsman at the post match presentation had said that the tactics the Sri Lankan employed were part of the game, but a few minutes later, blasted the opposition for not showing sportsmanship during the post match media conference.

I dont think theres anything special to say to Sehwag. You know, he said one thing at the after match presentation and there was a mark contrast in the press conference with regard to that no ball. I have spoken to M.S. Dhoni and Indian coach Gary Kirsten. Sehwag has tweeted that there have been other approaches made to him. We cant expect just one side to keep making the advances and holding out the hand while it has been sensationalized by other players.